Pumping unit



y May 17, 1938. G. B. GORDY, JR

PUMPING UNIT Filed May 5, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. i aew ez. Gangah,

May 17, 1938. ca. B. GORDY, JR

PUMPING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1936 IN VENTOR. 9 Gauge/BofieyJ'r 5 BY LJ W ATTORNEY.

May 17, 1938. G GORDY' JR V 2,117,716

PUMPING UNIT "Fil ed May 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i: l I .34 57 37 (5435 INVENTOR. @r ez. 6 0M3 3,-

ATTORNEY.

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Patents I was PATENT OFFICE 2,111,116 rmurnrc UNIT George B. Gordy, Jr.,Los Angeles, Galit, assignor of one-half to Frances Jacobs Gordy, LosAns'eles, Calif.

Application May 5, 1936, Serial No. 17,979

12 Claims.

This invention is an oil well pumping unit, and relates particularly tomeans for operating a walking beam to which the sucker rods of a pumpare attached, so as to counterbalance reciprocation of the rods.

It is an object of the invention to provide a light and compact unit,and more particularly to employ fluid pressure in lieu of cumbersomemasses of metal for counterbalancing the pump,- ing operation andreducing the amount of work required to pump a well.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to compress a fluidon the downstroke of the sucker rods and thus counterbalance thisdown-stroke, and on the up-stroke to counterbalance the string of rodsby means of this compressed fluid.

It is a further object of the invention to actuate the unit by a type ofprime mover with which a portion of the compressed fluid may be employedfor rendering the prime mover operative and increasing its efficiency.

It is a still further object of the invention to actuate the unitthrough a reduction gearof simple and compact design, and moreparticularly to employ worm gearing with the fluid pressurecounterbalance maintaining the load on the worm shaft in the samedirection throughout the cycle of operation so as to insure emcientoperation. 1

'It is a still further object of the invention to utilize the Samsonpost for the walking beam as a reservoir for the compressed fluid whichis employed, thereby conserving space and simplifying the construction.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the unit.

Fig. 2 is a detail axial section through the counterbalance cylinder. 8

. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the reduction gear, with thecasing partly broken away.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the operating unitincludes a prime mover I connected to a crank 2 through a reduction gear3, with a pitman I connected to the crank for operating a walking beam5. The unit also includes a cylinder 6 and a piston I which has aconnecting rod 8 connected to the walking beam; and the walking beam isfulcrumed on a Samson post 8 which forms a reservoir for compressedfluid.

The walking beam is medially fulcrumed on the Samson post by means of atrunnion l and the pitman t is connected to the rear end of the walkingbeam by a gudgeon H. A cable [2 which supports a polish rod saddle I3 isconnected to the front end of the walking beam, and a polish rod I4 issuspended from the saddle for reciprocating a usual string of suckerrods which operate a usual deep well pump.

In order that the front end of the walking beam may be swung out ofalinement with the well bore when the walking beam is not in use, so asnot to obstruct operations at the well, a portion 5a of the front end ofthe beam is pivotally mounted by means of a hinge l5 which is positionedat the underside of the walking beam, and lugs I6ll at the upper side ofthe portions 5-511 of the beam are releasably connected by a bolt l8.When the walking beam is not in use the bolt I8 is removed so that theportion 5a' of the beam may swing down to vertical position and thuscompletely clear the space around the well bore, and when the walkingbeam is to be used its portion 5a is swung into alinement with the mainportion of the beam and is secured in this operative. position by thebolt l8.

The prime mover I is shown as an internal combustion engine, preferablya crude oil engine, having its drive shaft connected to a shaft H of thereduction gear 3, by means of a coupling 22. The fluid which iscompressed by the counterbalancing mechanism of the unit as will behereafter described, is preferably air, and a portion of this compressedair may be utilized for fuel injection for the engine, and may also beemployed for partially supercharging the engine. As an instance of thisarrangement a conduit for compressed air may lead to the fuel tank 26 ofthe engine, so as to maintain pressure on the fuel which is suppliedthence via conduit 21 to a usual fuel injection manifold (not shown),and a branch conduit 28 may have an outlet for each of the cylinders ofthe engine, with said outlets controlled by a sleeve valve 29 which isrotated by timing mechanism 30a so that each outlet supplies compressedair to its corresponding cylinder at the end of the intake stroke.

The reduction gear 3 is preferably an enveloping type worm gearinghoused within a casing 30; As -an instance of this arrangement the shaft2| extends into the casing 30 and carries a worm 3| which meshes with aworm gear 32 which is fixed on a shaft 33.. The shaft 83 is iournaled inthe casing 30 as shown at Ma, and the crank 2 is fixed on the outwardlyprojecting end of the shaft 33. The worm shaft 2| may be journaled inroller beari s 34, and a bearing 35 preferably takes the t of the shaft2| in one direction.

By means of the counterbalance mechanism hereafter described, the loadon the worm shaft 2| is maintained in this one direction throughout thecycle of operation so that a bearing to take the thrust in the oppositedirection. is not required, and by maintaining the load in this onedirection most efiicient operation of the worm gearing is assured.

The cylinder and piston 6-I provides means for counterbalancing thestring of reciprocating sucker rods. As an instance of this arrangementthe connecting rod 8 for the piston I is preferably connected to thewalking beam between the Samson .post 9 and the pitman 4, the connectionbeing shown as a gudgeon 40, and the rod 8 is connected to across-head4l which is in turn connected to a piston rod 42 on which thepiston I is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 6. The upper endof the cylinder is closed as shown at 43, and the piston rod ispacked-011 at 44 where it projects through the closure 43. The portionof the cylinder 6 which is below thepiston I is open to the atmospherevia ports 45, and the piston seals against escape of pressure from thatportion of the cylinder which is above the piston. For this purpose thepiston is preferably provided with cup packing 46 which is operativelyexpanded by pressure in the cylinder 6 above the piston.

By this arrangement the piston I is elevated in the cylinder 6 on thedown-stroke of the string of sucker rods, thereby compressing a fluid inthe cylinder 6. This compressed fluid is discharged via'a conduit 41which communicates with the cylinder 6 through the closure 43, and theconduit 41 is connected to a pipe 48 which leads to the reservoir whichis formed by the Samson post 8. The fluid which is compressed ispreferably air, and the reservoir 9 is initially filled with compressedair and the pressure in the reservoir is maintained by the compressedair which is supplied thereto on the down-stroke of the string of suckerrods. This down-stroke is thus counterbalanced by the, air which iscompressed in the cylinder 6 and which is discharged into the reservoir9 via the conduits 41 and 48. On the up-stroke of the string of suckerrods compressed air from the reservoir 9 is supplied to the cylinder 6via the conduits 41-48, and this pressure exerted against the piston Ithus counterbalances the up-stroke of the string of rods.

Additional means are preferably provided for compressing fluid andcounterbalancing the down-stroke of thestring of sucker rods, and thiscompressed fiuid may be utilized to maintain the desired pressure in thereservoir 9. For this purpose additional air may be compressed on thedown-strokeof the string of sucker rods, with this additional compressedair supplied to the reservoir 9. As an instance of this arrangement thepiston rod 42 may be a hollow rod'iorming a bore 50 which at its lowerend opens through the piston I and which at its upper end is open to theatmosphere via ports 59; and a pipe 5| which is supported on the base ofthe cylinder 6 projects upwardly into the bore 50. The lower end of thepipe 5| is connected to the pipe 48 via a branch conduit 52, and apacking head 65 on the upper end of the pipe 5| permits recipro cationof the piston rod 42 relative to the pipe 5| with the packing headsealing that portion of the bore 50 which is below the packing head. Thepacking head is preferably provided with cup packing 55 which is sealedby pressure n he bore 56 below the packing head, and the lower end ofthe bore 50 is sealed, as for example by a plug 53 which is screwed intothe bore of the piston I and which is provided with packing 54 aroundthe pipe 5|.

The upper end of the pipe 5| communicates with the bore 50 via ports 51,and a valve 56 which is yieldingly closed by a spring 58 closes againstescape of pressure from the pipe 5| to the bore 50 via the ports 51, butis adapted to open responsive to pressure in the bore 56 to permit flowfrom the bore 56 through the ports 51 and past the open valve into thepipe 5|.

On the up-stroke of the string of sucker rods, with the piston 1 movingdownwardly relative to the stationary head 65, the pressure in reservoir9 closes the valve 56 so that compressed air from the reservoir isshut-01f from the bore 56, and the up-stroke of the string of rods isthus counterbalanced entirely by the compressed air suppliedto thecylinder 6 and which is exerted against the piston I. On thisdown-stroke of the piston I the packing 55 yields responsive to thepartial vacuum which is formed in the bore 50 below the head 65, so thatair at atmosphere pressure, supplied via ports 59, is drawn into thatportion of the bore 50 which is below the head 65.

The air which during the down-stroke of the piston I is thus drawn intothe bore 50 below the head 65, is compressed on the up-stroke of thepiston I, i. e. on the down-stroke of the string of sucker rods, andthis compressed air opens the valve 56 so that the air which iscompressed in both the cylinder 6 and the bore 50 is supplied toreservoir .9 during this down-stroke of the string of rods. Thiscompression in bore 50, in addition to the compression in cylinder 6,counterbalances the down-stroke of the string of rods and compresses theair to a degree whereby it may be forced into the reservoir 9 againstthe pressure therein, to maintain the desired working pressure in thereservoir. The maximum pressure in the reservoir may be controlled by asafety valve 66, and the compression which is thus obtained on thedown-stroke of the string of sucker rods being in excess of thatrequired to maintain the desired pressure in the reservoir forcounterbalancing the up-stroke of the string of rods, the excesspressure may be supplied to the conduit 25 which furnishes thecompressed air for operating and increasing the efliciency of theinternal combustion engine For this purpose the conduit 25 may beconnected to the branch conduit 52 as shown at Fig. 1.

By this arrangement as thus described, a part of the reduction in loadon the down-stroke of the sucker rods and resulting from the string ofrods no longer supporting the weight of a column of oil, is compensatedfor by taking on a compressing load, and the string of rods is thuscounterbalanced throughout thecycle of operation,

.with the load on the reduction gear 3 in the same direction throughoutthe cycle of operation, and with the excess compressed air available forother uses.

A compact and efiicient operating unit is thus provided, particularlyapplicable for employment of a crude oil internal combustion engine as asource of power, with the excess air which is compressed by thecounterbalance mechanism utilized for fuel injection and forsupercharging the engine; and the unit being also adapted for employmentof eflicient gear reduction by using a worm gear, with the compressionwhich is obtained on the down-stroke of the string of sucker rodsmaintaining the load on the worm gear in the same direction throughoutthe cycle of operation to insure most eflicient operation of gearing ofthis type.

I claim:

1. An operating unit for use with a walking beam which is connected toand reciprocates a rod, said unit comprising a hollow Samson post forthe walking beam, said post forming a reservoir, means for oscillatingthe walking beam, means for compressing a fluid and conducting it to thereservoir during movement of the walking beam in one direction, andmeans for utilizing said compressed fluid for assisting in moving thewalking beam in the opposite direction.

2. An operating unit for use with a walking beam which is connected toand reciprocates a rod, said unit comprising a hollow Samson post forthe walking beam, said post forming a reservoir, a cylinder, a hollowpiston rod, a piston connected to the hollow piston rod and mounted inthe cylinder, means for connecting the hollow piston rod to the walkingbeam for dependent oscillation of the walking beam and reciprocation ofthe hollow piston rod, the hollow piston rod forming a second cylinder,a pipe extending into the second cylinder, means surrounding the pipefor closing one end of the second cylinder, a packing head on the pipeexpanded by pressure in the second cylinder for sealing the opposite endof the second cylinder, an air inlet communicating with the hollowpiston rod beyond the packing head, a valve between the pipe and thesecond cylinder, said valve closing responsive to pressure in the pipeand opening responsive to pressure in the second cylinder, the partsbeing arranged whereby movement of the piston in one directioncompresses air in the cylinders, and movement of the piston in theopposite direction draws air through the air inlet and thence throughthe hollow piston rod and past the packing head into the secondcylinder, means for conducting compressed air from the cylinders to thereservoir during movement of the piston in the first mentioneddirection, said means supplying compressed air from the reservoir to thefirst mentioned cylinder during movement of the piston in the oppositedirection, a pitman for the walking beam, a crank for the pitman, a wormgear fixed for rotation with the crank, a shaft having a worm meshingwith the worm gear, an internal combustion engine for rotating theshaft, and means for conducting compressed air from the reservoir to theengine for injecting fuel and supercharging the engine.

3. An operating unit for use with a walking beam which is connected toand reciprocates a rod, said unit comprising a reservoir, a cylinder, ahollow piston rod, a piston connected to the hollow piston rod andmounted in the cylinder, means for connecting the hollow piston rod tothe walking beam for dependent oscillation of the walking beam andreciprocation of the hollow piston rod, the hollow piston rod forming asecond cylinder, a pipe extending into the second cylinder, meanssurrounding the pipe for closing one end of the second cylinder, apacking head on the pipe expanded by pressure in the second cylinder forsealing the opposite end of the second cylinder, a fluid inletcommunicating with the hollow piston rod beyond the packing head, avalve between the pipe and the second cylinder, said valve closingresponsive to pressure in the pipe and opening responsive to presisurein the second cylinder, the parts being arranged whereby movement of thepiston in one direction compresses fluid in the cylinders, and movementof the piston in the opposite direction draws fluid through the fluidinlet and thence through the hollow piston rod and past the packing headinto the second cylinder, means for conducting compressed fluid from thecylinders to the reservoir during movement of the piston in the firstmentioned direction, said means supplying compressed fluid from thereservoir to the first mentioned cylinder during movement of the pistonin the opposite direction, and means for oscillating the walking beam.

4. An operating unit for use with a walking beam which is connected toand reciprocates a rod, said unit comprising means for compressing airby movement of the walking beam, an internal combustion engine foroscillating the walking beam, and means for utilizing air compressed bythe air compressing means in the operation of the engine.

5. An operating unit for use with a vertical string of rods, said unitcomprising a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a hollowpiston rod for the piston, means for connecting the hol- 2 low pistonrod to the string of rods for dependent reciprocation of said string ofrods and said hollow piston rod, the parts being arranged wherebymovement of the hollow piston rod responsive to downward movement of thestring of 'rods operates the piston for compressing air in the cylinder,means in the hollow piston rod for compressing air therein by saidmovement of the hollow piston rod, means for conducting compressed airto the reservoir from the cylinder and from the hollow piston rod, saidconducting means supplying compressed air from the reservoir to thecylinder and against the piston for moving the hollow piston rod in theopposite direction during upward movement of the string of rods, meansfor shutting off compressed air from the hollow piston rod during saidupward movement of the string of rods, an internal combustion engine forreciprocating the string of rods, and means for conducting compressedair from the reservoir to the engine for use in the operation of theengine.

6. An operating unit for use with a vertical string of rods, said unitcomprising a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a hollowpiston rod for the piston, means for connecting the hollow piston rod tothe string of rods for dependent reciprocation of said string of rodsand said hollow piston rod, the parts being arranged whereby movement ofthe hollow piston rod responsive to downward movement of the string ofrods operates the piston for compressing fluid in the cylinder, means inthe hollow piston rod for compressing fluid therein by said movement ofthe hollow piston rod, means for conducting compressed fluid to thereservoir from the cylinder and from the hollow piston rod, saidconducting means supplying compressed fluid from the reservoir to thecylinder and against the piston for moving the hollow piston rod in theopposite direction during upward movement of the string of rods, meansfor shutting off compressed fluid from the hollow piston rod during saidupward movement, of the string of rods, and means for reciprocating thestring of rods.

7. In combination, a driven element, means for driving the drivenelement, a reservoir, a cylin- ,der, a piston in the cylinder, a hollowpiston rod for the piston, means for connecting the hollow piston rod tothe driven element for dependent movement of said driven element andsaid hollow piston rod, the parts being arranged whereby movement of thehollow piston rod responsive to movement of the driven element in onedirection operates the piston for compressing fluid in the cylinder,means in the hollow piston rod for compressing fluid therein by saidmovement of the hollow piston rod, means for conducting compressed fluidto the reservoir from the cylinder and from the hollow piston rod, saidconducting means supplying compressed fluid from the reservoir to thecylinder and against the piston for moving the hollow piston rod in theopposite direction during movement of the driven element in the oppositedirection, and means for shutting 01f compressed fluid from the hollowpiston rod during said last mentioned movement of the driven element.

8. In combination, a driven element, means for driving the drivenelement, a reservoir, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a hollowpiston rod for the piston, means for connecting the hollow piston rod tothe driven element for dependent movement of said driven element andsaid hollow piston rod, the parts being arranged whereby movement of thehollow piston rod responsive to movement of the driven element in onedirection operates the piston for compressing fluid in the cylinder,means in the hollow piston rod for compressing fluid therein by saidmovement of the hollow piston rod, and means for conducting compressedfluid to the reservoir from the cylinder and from the hollow piston rod,said conducting means supplying compressed fluid from the reservoir tothe cylinder and against the piston for moving the hollow piston rod inthe opposite direction during movement of the driven element in theopposite direction.

9. In combination, a driven element, means for driving the drivenelement, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a hollow piston rod forthe piston, and means for connecting the hollow piston rod to the drivenelement for dependent movement of the driven element and reciprocationof the piston and its hollow rod in the cylinder, the parts beingarranged whereby movement of the piston and its hollow piston rod in onedirection compresses fluid in the cylinder and in the hollow piston rod,and during movement of the piston in the opposite direction pressure ofsaid compressed fluid is exerted against. the piston.

10. In combination, a reservoir, a pump cylinder, a piston, a hollowpiston rod, the piston and its hollow piston rod being adapted forreciprocation in the cylinder, and means whereby movement of the pistonand its hollow piston rod in one direction compresses fluid in thecylinder and in the hollow piston rod with said compressed fluidsupplied thence to the-reservoir, said means being arranged so thatduring movement of the piston and its hollow piston rod in the oppositedirection said compressed fluid is shut off from flow from the reservoirto the hollow piston rod but is supplied from the reservoir to thecylinder for exerting pressure against the piston in said oppositedirection.

11. In combination, a reservoir, a pump cylinder, a piston, a hollowpiston rod, the piston and its hollow piston rod being adapted forreciprocation in the cylinder, and means whereby movement of the pistonand its hollow piston rod in one direction compresses fluid in thecylinder andin the hollow piston rod with said compressed fluid suppliedthence to the reservoir, said means being arranged so that duringmovement of the piston and its hollow piston rod in the oppositedirection said compressed fluid is supplied from the reservoir to thecylinder for exerting pressure against the piston in said oppositedirection.

12. In combination, a pump cylinder, 2. piston, a hollow piston rod, thepiston and its hollow piston rod being adapted for reciprocation in thecylinder, and means whereby movement of the piston and its hollow pistonrod in one direction compresses fluid in the cylinder and in the hollowpiston rod, said means being arranged so that during movement of thepiston and its hollow piston rod in the opposite direction saidcompressed fluid is supplied to the cylinder for exerting pressureagainst the piston in saidopposite direction.

GEORGE B. GORDY, JR.

